What vegetables do you most associate with early spring?

For me, spring's arrival is heralded by the first tender spears of asparagus poking through the soil. I developed a taste for asparagus when I lived in Western Massachusetts, home of the world-famous Hadley asparagus, many years ago. Being in a place with such pride for a native varietal made me see a vegetable I had previously overlooked in a whole new light.

If you drive around Hadley in the spring and early summer, you'll see tables on the side of the road where people sell asparagus and other vegetables from their own gardens. The farmers won't be anywhere to be found; they're most likely off in their garden, or reading Melville or something. You just put your money in a jar, take your asparagus, and go.

This elegant tart recipe showcases asparagus at its absolute best: lightly blanched to maintain that perfect snap, then nestled into a creamy goat cheese custard that lets the vegetable's distinctive flavor shine. It's sophisticated enough for Easter brunch or a dinner party, or simple enough for a weeknight meal when you want to celebrate the season. Enjoy, and happy spring.

Asparagus And Goat Cheese Tart

Ingredients:

1 premade pie crust (or homemade pastry)

1½ lbs fresh asparagus, trimmed

8 oz goat cheese, softened

3 large eggs

½ cup heavy cream

2 tbsp fresh thyme leaves

2 cloves garlic, minced

¼ cup grated Gruyère cheese

Salt and freshly ground black pepper

2 tbsp olive oil

Instructions:

Preheat oven to 375°F. Press pie crust into a 9-inch tart pan and blind bake for 12 minutes. Meanwhile, blanch asparagus in boiling salted water for 2-3 minutes until bright green and tender-crisp. Drain and pat dry. In a bowl, whisk together goat cheese, eggs, cream, thyme, garlic, salt and pepper until smooth. Arrange asparagus in the pre-baked crust, pour custard mixture over top, and sprinkle with Gruyère. Bake 35-40 minutes until center is just set and top is lightly golden. Cool 10 minutes before slicing.

Senior writer Chris DeWeese edits Morning Brief, The Weather Channel’s newsletter.